A BALLOON LNDG NEAR A NATL PARK RESULTS IN A DISAGREEMENT AS TO LOCATION AND UNAUTH FUEL TANK INSTALLATION IN THE BALLOON.

Narrative

IN SUM: A COMMERCIAL HOT AIR BALLOON WAS SET DOWN JUST OUTSIDE THE BORDER OF NATL PARK LAND. PARK RANGERS ALLEGED THAT THE BALLOON WAS INSIDE THE PARK BORDER EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE NEVER CLOSER THAN 1/2 MI TO THE ACFT. THE GND RECOVERY CREW WAS HELD BY THE RANGERS AND NOT ALLOWED TO ASSIST WITH RECOVERY. THREATENED WITH CONFISCATION AND FINE IF HE DID NOT LEAVE. THE PLT ARRANGED FOR MORE FUEL; MADE A NON COMPLIANT INSTALLATION OF FUEL TANKS IN HIS ACFT. PAX WERE LEFT BEHIND AND FLT WAS COMMENCED TO LEAVE THE AREA. FLT PASSED OVER PARK LAND TO ARRIVE OUTSIDE THE PARK WITH A LNDG IN AN APPROPRIATE UNCONTESTED AREA WITH NEGLIGIBLE FUEL REMAINING. THE NON COMPLIANT INSTALLATION AND USE OF THE EXTRA FUEL TANKS CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ACFT SYS RESULTING IN UP TO $1000 IN DAMAGE. ONCE THE FINAL LNDG WAS MADE; THE PARK RANGERS DID OFFER SOME ASSISTANCE IN REACHING THE BALLOON; BUT WERE UNCOOPERATIVE IN PROVIDING INFO AS TO THEIR IDENT OR SUPERVISION CONTACT DATA. THE 4 RPTRS ASSERT THAT THE OFFICIALS INVOLVED WERE TOTALLY UNFAMILIAR WITH BALLOON OP AND THE AREA OF THE LNDG AND BECAME CAUGHT UP IN AN EXERCISE OF ASSERTING THEIR ASSUMED AUTH. THE FACTS AS SEEN BY THE RPTRS HAVE BEEN REVIEWED BY THE LCL FSDO.